Finish Along 2014

I've been inspired by Felicity to join the FAL 2014 so I can actually finish something. I tried to join A Lovely Year of Finishes last year, but it was a dismal failure. I missed the linky every single time by a day or so, and then I finally gave up. I'm hoping that because the FAL 2014 is only every quarter, I should be able to actually post about my plans and finishes. Please, cross your fingers for me.

I'm going easy on myself this quarter. We will most likely be putting the house on the market in the next month or so, so I will have to pack up most of my sewing room so it looks pretty. That makes sewing pretty tough. I am not neat or organized.

Overall, my goal this year is to work on actual quilts. I've been distracted in the past couple of years on sewing small projects, kids clothes, and swap projects. This year I'd like to finish some quilts. I'm going to force myself to finish one WIP, and then let myself start something new. And I might even abandon some projects this year too.

Goals:

1. Constellations Quilt

I'm quilting this one right now. All of the blue is quilted already with simple lines on each side of every seam. Now I'm working on the background, with just a simple loops and stars free motion. I want to send this one off asap, so it is at the top of the list.

2. Heather Ross Swoon

This one is easy! I'm sending it off to Chelsea on Monday to be quilted, and when it comes back, I'll just have to bind it. I'm thinking dark brown HR wildflowers.

3. Yellow/Aqua/Grey Flying Geese

Okay, I've never shared this one, but I made the quilt top at a quilt retreat when I was pregnant with Little Miss S. She's now almost 3. It is basted and ready to be quilted.

4. Sparkle Punch



Hmm. This photo is from February 2012. That is almost 2 years ago!


5. Red/Aqua Pillow?



Not too sure about this one. I started it as a mini, but I think it will turn into a pillow top. Should it be a Christmas pillow with a green binding? Or just stay with the red/grey/aqua?

Okay, I think that is a reasonable list of goals. What are you working on this quarter? Are you joining any linky parties? How do you keep your WIPs under control?

I Swoon for Heather Ross

Happy New Year everyone!

Although I am trying to cut down on swaps and bees, I joined the Munki in the Middle Bee last fall. I love this bee because I get to use all of my favourite (and much hoarded Heather Ross fabrics) and it includes a great bunch of women. We've been making + plus x blocks, and lots of stars, all with beautiful Heather Ross centres.

Once I had all of my lovelies pulled out, I couldn't resist making something for myself too. I was inspired by the Swoon wall hanging that is hanging in the background of Camille's Craftsy class. One lone Swoon block surrounded by a big white border. But I wanted to use as many of my HR fabrics as possible, so I went with more of a scrappy colour scheme.



I forced the pattern a bit. I know that most of my blues/aquas are actually white/low volume, but I wanted the sushi, fish in bags and giant octopus in there, so I made it work. I moved a couple of blocks around.




And then added a big 6" white border.



I was going to simply quilt this with cross-hatch pattern, and then I had a much better idea. I'm sending this quilt off to Chelsea on Monday to be custom long-arm quilted. Chelsea already sent me some ideas for the quilting, think swirls and pebbles, and I am so excited. Originally I thought I would hang it in the girls' room, but now I think it is calling to be in my sewing room. Is it crazy for a grown woman to love Heather Ross so much?

And finally, thank you so much for all of your kind words of support on my last post about moving. We found out last week that we are moving back to Prince George. And I'm very happy. We know people there. They have all the activities and schooling options that I want. We are hoping that the kids and I can stay here until the school year is over, but we'll see how things go. You know how it goes, "the best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men gang aft agley." 

Sorry about the Robbie Burns reference. My Highland Dancing group is madly preparing for our Robbie Burns Night!

Swapping

As always, I've been busy swapping lately.

I joined the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap. My partner, Filomena, loves everything red & aqua, so I purchased Camille's new Mini Puddle Jumping pattern, and dug out some of my favourite fabrics.

Mini Puddle Jumping Quilt - Pattern by Camille Roskelley, Sewn and quilted by Quilting Barbie

These blocks are teeny. They measure 3.5" unfinished!

Teeny Quilt Block - only 3.5"!

Mini Puddle Jumping Quilt - Pattern by Camille Roskelley, Sewn and quilted by Quilting Barbie

I also received a lovely quilt from Nikol. She's an aqua lover too, so she used tiny pieces to make a ticker-tape quilt. She even added a touch of orange - my favourite colour scheme. (Nikol, if you are reading this, can you say hello, so I can follow you on flickr/instragram and say a proper thank you?)

Mini Ticker Tape Quilt. I'm calling it Aqua Love!

Don't you just love that orange?

Cute little orange rectangle hiding in the sea of aqua.

I'm working on some other swaps too, so hopefully I'll blog about them soon. Things are pretty crazy here. Last month, we found out that the mill that my husband works for is closing in March. Thankfully, it doesn't mean that we'll be out on the street, but it does mean that we're most likely going to have to move sometime next year. That will be 3 moves in 4 years. Yikes. I am starting to hate moving. As of right now, we don't know where it will be, but likely further north. I am just hoping that we can move to a town big enough to have French Immersion and Highland Dancing. Apparently, those two things are extremely important to me. Two of my kids are in French Immersion (Grade 2 and Kindergarten) and I teach FI Kindergarten part-time too. And, my daughter is an extremely talented Highland Dancer. I'd hate for her to have to give it up. I Highland Dance here too, but I've accepted my fate that I'll have to give it up when we move. There aren't many places with recreational adult Highland Dancing. Don't you hate it when you have weird hobbies?

Sorry for the rant. And Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American quilty friends.

A Bear Paw Mini Quilt

I volunteered to be an angel for the last round of the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap. I was especially happy to help out when I learned that it was Deanna that still hadn't received from her partner. Deanna sent me a gorgeous charm pack and pouch for another swap, and only lives a province away.

Sleeping Beauty

Deanna likes modern whimsical fabric (a la Heather Ross, Aneela Hoey and Sarah Jane), and she was looking for something to hang in her little girls' room. I had a ton of fun rummaging through my scrap bin, and playing with my favourite fabrics.

This is what I came up with:

Bear Paw Mini Quilt by Quilting Barbie

I used Aneela's Bear Paw pattern to make 3.5" blocks. The pattern is great because it offers instructions on how to make five different sizes (3.5", 6", 12", 18" and 24") of bear paw blocks. I chose the smallest. And now I can't wait to make some in the bigger sizes. Don't you think that the Lush Uptown Deer would be lovely in a bear paw pillow?

Angel Swap Package by Quilting Barbie

The next round of the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap is starting soon. Are you joining?

Drunkard's Path: A Finished Quilt

This quilt was actually finished, and mailed off to it's new owner eons ago, but I never got a chance to share the finished quilt. Here she is.

Drunkard's Path Quilt by Quilting Barbie

In the end, I was completely thrilled with how it turned out. At first, I was a bit nervous about all the bright colours, and then there was the whole quilting/machine eating my thread fiasco. But now that it is finished, sent away, and loved by it's new owner, I'm quite proud of my quilt.

Drunkard's Path Quilt by Quilting Barbie

Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Circle Dance by Elisa's Backporch Design

Size: 63" x 70"

Templates: 7" and 3.5" Crazy Curve Templates by Elisa's Backporch Design

Fabric: From my stash (Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope and FMF Legacy, Kate Spain Honeycomb, Tula Pink Salt Water, plus many others)

Backing Fabric: Sarah Jane Out to Sea, Denyse Schmidt Chicopee, Kona Cotton, plus one unknown from my stash.

Quilting: FMQ Stippling by me.

Quilt Back in the dark

The real reason I haven't shared the quilt is that I am not happy with the photos that I took of it. I was in a rush to get it in the mail, so I quickly snapped a few shots in the evening after the kids were in bed. Not a great time to take photos. This is really something that I need to work on. Do you have any great tips? I just got a hand-me-down DSLR from my Mom, but I'm still using the auto focus. I need to learn how to use the manual settings!

All wrapped up!

Linking up with Amanda Jean's Finish it Up Friday!

Where did September go? A catch up post.

Wow, I can't believe September is almost over! It has been a very busy month for us. My son started Kindergarten, my oldest daughter started Grade 2, and sweet Little Miss S started back at daycare. I am teaching French Immersion Kindergarten (my son's class) two afternoons a week again this year. In all of my years of teaching, this is the first time that I've ever done the same job two years in a row. I am really enjoying having another go at it.

And still, there has been some time for sewing. I promised to show off the charm pack that I created for Cathy. Cathy also wrote a very sweet blog post about it, so if you want to see the rest, go check them out here. Here's a peek:

HR Charm Pack from Quilting Barbie

I've also received a few amazing swap parcels in the last little bit. Deanna from Little D and me, sent me a sweet little pouch and 50 amazing charm squares for the Simple & Sweet Scrappy Swap. 

Pouch and Charm Squares

Beautiful Charm Squares from Deanna

A bunch of them have already been used in a quick little baby quilt that I just had to make. (No, it's not for me). Thank you so much, Deanna. I love them. Especially those little foxes. And the Tula Pink. And the beautifully textured organic fabric. And...okay, I love them all.

A quick baby quilt - Can you spot Deanna's Charms?

I also received a special package from Amy in the UK for the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap. This really is one of my favourite swaps. Amy made a mug rug that is just my style, and sent some gorgeous scraps. Thank you Amy!

Modern Scrappy Bits Package Received from Amy in the UK

Finally, I just received a beautiful package of fabric from Helen from all the way in Australia. We had a private swap, and she sent me some beautiful Saffron Craig fabric. I am new to this Australian designer, but I'm smitten. The colours are beautiful and vibrant. I hope to make a special project (probably a cushion cover or a table runner) with the fabric. Thank you Helen for the wonderful swap!




And other than getting great mail, I've been trying to finish a few things. Hopefully I'll post again before yet another month goes by.

How was your September?

Simple & Sweet Scrappy Swap

I know it might come as a bit of a surprise, but I joined another swap on flickr earlier this summer. This one is the Simple & Sweet Scrappy Swap. And now, with the deadline looming, I finally sat down to cut up 50 charms and make a simple pouch.

My partner said she likes Heather Ross, so I dug into my scrap bin, and made two simple nine-patches for the pouch.

Heather Ross Scrap Pouch

Although linen, a neutral solid, or even low volume would have been the expected choice for the border of the nine-patches, I decided that I didn't want to do the expected. I have tons of Brown Posies in my scrap bins (it was the backing of my Maple Leaf Rag - which, by the way, I really need to finish hand-sewing the binding so I can show it off), and I thought the colours helped to unite some of the colours of the HR scraps.



It does strike a bit of the 1970's, with all the orange, brown and teal, but I'm okay with that. I was born in the 1970's after all, so it can't be all that bad.

Heather Ross Zippered Pouch

I'm not going to show all of the charms just yet, I want my partner to get them first. But I promise I'll show them then. They are worth waiting for!

Simple & Sweet Scrappy Swap Package for my partner!